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Chelsea: The best time to play Atletico Madrid is right now

By Mike Malley

VALENCIA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 17: Diego Pablo Simeone, Manager of Atletico de Madrid reacts during the La Liga Santander match between Levante UD and Atletico Madrid at Ciutat de Valencia on February 17, 2021 in Valencia, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 17: Diego Pablo Simeone, Manager of Atletico de Madrid reacts during the La Liga Santander match between Levante UD and Atletico Madrid at Ciutat de Valencia on February 17, 2021 in Valencia, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Given how turbulent and tumultuous this Chelsea season has already been, a few more twists and turns have to be just around the corner, right? The Blues have been an absolute enigma, at times looking like serious challengers to Manchester City for the Premier League crown and at others like, well, Arsenal. This is understandable given the injuries, COVID-related absences and a managerial change that have already taken place, but the fan base is clearly desperate for a consistent run of good form.

This run might not come as soon as many supporters would hope, though, looking at the team’s upcoming fixture list. Chelsea will play its first leg matchup with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before facing Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton consecutively in the EPL. Especially considering how competitive the fight for the top four is, this stretch of difficult opponents is going to be a defining moment in the Blues’ season.

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The most interesting of Chelsea’s upcoming opposition is definitely Atletico Madrid though. Los Colchoneros have been the best side in La Liga this season, currently sitting at the top of the table with 55 points. As to be expected, Atleti has conceded the joint-fewest goals in the Spanish top flight with only 16, a testament to Diego Simeone’s defensive tactical genius.

The biggest reason for Atletico’s dominance this season, though, has been the arrival of Luis Suarez. Since Barcelona allowed him to walk for free last summer, El Pistolero has been on an absolute tear. He is currently tied with Lionel Messi at the top of the Pichichi standings with 16 goals and has started to develop a strong connection with his strike partner, Joao Felix. The Portuguese youngster has bounced back well from his difficult rookie campaign in Spain, totaling 13 goal contributions in all competitions.

Looking at Tuesday’s match from a tactical perspective, these two teams have many similarities. Both play three in the back and rely heavily on their wingbacks to create space for the forwards. The main issue for the Blues lies in the midfield. Simeone usually deploys three players in the center of the pitch in an effort to dominate possession. With the personnel he has, namely Koke, Saul and Marcos Llorente, Chelsea’s midfield duo will certainly have its hands full.

Still, right now might be the best time to face Atletico so far this season, as they have fallen off over the past few weeks. Since the beginning of February, the club from the Spanish capital has taken five of a possible 12 points in the league, including a draw and a loss in its previous two matches, both against lowly Levante. Real Madrid has steadily been gaining ground on the current leaders and with only a three-point gap separating the two clubs, Atleti’s stranglehold on the title race is starting to slip.

Additionally, one aspect of the game in which the Blues hold a huge advantage is speed. Thomas Tuchel should deploy a rapid front three in order to expose the lack of pace in Atletico’s back line. If all three are healthy and ready to play, a combination of Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi would be devastating. If Chelsea’s attackers can press the opposing wingbacks in their own half and prevent them from wreaking havoc on the flanks, they have a real chance to dictate the tempo of the match.

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A Chelsea victory would be massive for the team’s morale heading into the most difficult run of the season. Fortunately, it appears that Atletico is extremely vulnerable and on the verge of an epic collapse. This match comes at a crucial juncture in both teams’ seasons, so whoever wants it more will likely take the advantage into the second leg.

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